Annette Barker Naturopath in Drouin, Victoria | Alternative & holistic health service

Annette Barker Naturopath

Locality: Drouin, Victoria

Phone: +61 425 789 429

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• Medical and health
• Alternative & holistic health service
• Naturopath

24.01.2022 My posts are for those interested in what is happening with COVID 19. If you are not interested there are other places you can express your views. I personally support the views of Black Lives Matter and think it is a disgrace that there is such inequality in Australia. But posting here won’t change anything. Thanks to those who have made valuable contributions on this page.

19.01.2022 I am so over incorrect and unfair criticism of Naturopathy. The latest attack I heard, was an item on the ABC TV morning news program where a Dr Brad McKay was claiming Naturopaths are quacks. He has written a book called Fake Medicine. There is absolutely no doubt some dubious medical claims are very concerning, if not very dangerous. And many Naturopaths share these concerns.... It is totally wrong to assume that Naturopathy condones those dubious practices. Perhaps Dr McKay must be unaware of what the Bachelor Health Science (Naturopathy) 4 Year Degree involves? The following compulsory subjects are required to be successfully completed to gain a Naturopathy Degree: - Human Biological Science 1 & 2 - Chemistry and Biochemistry - Foundations in Critical Enquiry - Pharmacology - Pathology and Clinical Science 1, 2 & 3 - Clinical Examination - Foundations of Public Health And then there are evidenced based specialist subjects in Nutritional Medicine and Herbal Medicine as well as Dietary subjects. Have the critics not researched what Naturopathy is? Ideally Doctors and Naturopaths should work together for optimal health care. Doctors usually focus on treating symptoms and Naturopaths focus, for a large part, on the reasons why the symptoms have occurred. During the Naturopathy degree students are strongly encouraged to develop an effective working relationship with Doctors (when they start practicing) to enable Naturopaths to be part of providing the best possible health care for people. There are some excellent Integrative Medical Practices starting in Australia, where Medicine and Naturopathy can work together. This is surely the way ahead for improved health outcomes for all of us.

07.01.2022 NOW IS A GOOD TIME TO REDUCE STRESS Going back into to lockdown can be really stressful for so many reasons. Even for people who previously didn’t think they were easily stressed. So, I hope you are or will consider:... - excerising appropriately for your current level of fitness. - meditation. There are plenty of options on the Internet and You- tube. - relaxation breathing techniques. You can also find them online. I know people have many ways to relax. Have you got any suggestions? POTENTIAL BENEFITS OF BREATHING THROUGH YOUR NOSE In the latest edition of the ATMS (professional association) magazine Dr Rosalba Courtney PhD reports on the benefits of nasal breathing. It is generally known that breathing through your nose warms and moistens air before it enters your lungs. Dr Courtney explains it has been found your nose produces nitric oxide. Nitric oxide may increase blood oxygen levels by about 10% and it may have some antibacterial and antiviral properties in the respiratory system. Not enough to protect you from COVID 19 though so wearing a mask in public and following the social distancing and hygiene recommendations are vital. It has been good to see more kindness and consideration in our society, although that doesn’t seem to get reported too often. I hope by all working together we can get out of this current situation sooner than anticipated. Safe safe.

05.01.2022 IF YOU ARE 65yrs PLUS OR HAVE A HEALTH CONDITION (putting you in a COVID19 vulnerability group) YOU MAY WISH TO STICK TO THE HIGHER LEVEL RESTRICTIONS. (Just an OPINION - what do you think?) In Australia we are very fortunate to have had our state and federal governments making good decisions. And the majority of Australians following the rules. Australia is tracking so well compared to some other countries.... However in my opinion people over 65 yrs should consider keeping their risks low. Yes I am very risk adverse. Statistically your risk of catching COVID 19 in Australia is very low but it is not impossible. The health authorities and the government expect clusters of people with the virus to appear. They have management plans for when that happens. It appears they cannot predict when and where the virus clusters will be. So by minimising your contact, social distancing, hand sanitising / washing and keeping your home a safe haven (please see an earlier post) you can minimise your low risk even further. Don’t forget that when indoors the virus can linger in the air. The scientific research has found after 15 minutes you can breath in enough virus particles to catch COVID 19. Of course someone with the virus would have had to have been in that room prior to or at the same time as you. The particles survive in the air for hours. The COVID 19 app only records contacts after 15 minutes for that reason. Also we have no way of knowing where carriers without symptoms are or have been. Taking people’s temperature will detect when a person has that symptom. Being in the more vulnerable category makes a difference to the potential seriousness of contracting COVID. Maintaining a healthy diet and lifestyle may be helpful. There have been some reports of having a healthy level of Vitamin D being protective if people get the virus. In order to absorb Vitamin D, to enable the body to do its thing, it is necessary to take it with Calcium. Importantly, too much Vitamin D is harmful so it is vital to follow the dose advice correctly. What are you doing to protect yourself?

04.01.2022 ARE YOU STRESSED? Going back into lock down can be very stressful for a lot of people. Even people who previously didn't think they were easily stressed. So I hope you are or will consider meditation. Even simple Mindfulness techniques can be helpful.... There is plenty of information on the internet and You-tube. It is just a matter of finding what suits you. I hope you can find ways to relax. POTENTIAL BENEFITS OF BREATHING THROUGH YOUR NOSE. In the latest edition of the magazine of ATMS (professional association) Dr Rosalba Courtney (PhD) reports the benefits of breathing through your nose. It is generally known that nasal breathing warms and moistens the air we breath. Dr Courtney has written about breathing through your nose and the protective function of nitric oxide. She explains that nitric oxide is produced when we breath through our noses. Nitric oxide may assist with some antiviral and antibacterial action within the respiratory system and also may increase blood oxygen levels by about 10%. I think it is worth the effort, so if you can, breathe through your nose. BUT for protection from COVID 19 wear a mask when you are in public and abide by the social distancing and hygiene rules. There is plenty of professional/medical advice to support wearing a mask. Stay safe.